Sheryl Crow, married couple to receive honorary degrees

Posted to On Campus by Jimmy Hibsch at 10:24 a.m., April 20, 2011

Five MU alumni are being awarded an honorary degree at the commencement exercises.

“Honorary degrees are awarded to graduates or former students, who have achieved distinction,” a news release stated. “Degrees are also awarded to people who have rendered distinctive service to the state or the University, as well as high distinction from around the world.”

The following graduates will be honored:

Sheryl Crow, a country music artist who graduated in 1984. Since then, she has achieved fame for her work.

“Ms. Crow is a celebrated musician, breast cancer survivor and a champion of children and music education,” said Michael O’Brien, dean of the College of Arts and Science in the release. “Ms. Crow is an outstanding role model for current MU students and future graduates, especially women.”

Brian O’Connell has served as rector and vice chancellor of the University of the Western Cape since 2001. He is accredited with making the university one of the best educational institutes in Africa.

“Professor O’Connell’s imprint on the future of South African higher education is truly remarkable,” MU Executive Vice President Emeritus Ronald J. Turner said in the release.

Ian Wilmut is one of the team members responsible for the production of “Dolly,” the first cloned mammal. His work has paved a path for genetic engineering.

“Wilmut is definitely one of the world’s most outstanding scientists in his field,” said Billy Day, a MU professor emeritus who has known Wilmut for 44 years, in the release. “Both before and after his international recognition for this research, he was an important friend and willing colleague of UM personnel.”

Bryon “Barney” Calame is a journalist who began working for The Wall Street Journal is 1965, only four years after graduating MU. He has also worked at The New York Times, and held editor positions at both newspapers.

The final honoree is Calame’s wife, Kathryn Calame, who has worked tirelessly over the past 40 years on cancer research. Her work was critical to the development of some of today’s vaccine strategies.

“Dr. Calame and her research teams made cutting-edge contributions to our understanding of gene regulatory control in the development of antibody-producing B cells that form the foundation of the human immune system and of critical regulatory signals that dictate growth and differentiation of human lymphomas, leukemia and breast cancers,” said Mark McIntosh, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology chairman, in a news release.